Improvement in muzzles for shot-guns



1. FRY.

Muzzle for Shot Guns.

Patented Dec. 15, 1868.

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JOHN FRY, OF LATROBE, PENNSYLVANIA. am Patent No. 84,942, elated Decemiieg' 15, rats.

IMPROVEMENT IN MUZZLES FOR sHoT-Gtm's. v

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The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern v Be it known that I, JOHN FRY, dentist, of Latrobe, in the county of Westmoreland, and in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and. useful Improvements in Shot-Guns, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,,and exact description thereof, references being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, in which-- Figure l is a side view of my invention. Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through-the invention, in which are shown the hinge and catch.- The red lines show the conical part of the barrel turned back, leaving the gun as an ordinary shot-gun.

Figure 3 is a plan View of the invention as applied to double-barrel guns.

This invention consists in attaching to the muzzle of shot-guns an adjustable section of barrel, or independent muzzle-piece,-havin g its bore tapering slightly from the extremity which adjoins the gun-barrel to a point at or near the opposite extremity, for the purpose of concentrating the shot in its flight from the gun. Q

To enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains, to make and use the same, I will proceed to describe'it in detail.

In the drawings, A is the barrel of an ordinary shotgun, and A an adjustable tapering section of barrel, the use of which, in combination with the barrel A, forms the subject of this application.

The section or independent muzzlc-piece A is made with a bore tapering slightly from the end 51:,where it joins the gun-muzzle, to a point, x, at or near its op-. posite extremity, and having its bore, at the point where it touches the muzzle ofthe gun, exactly corresponding in size to the bore of the gun.

A muzzle-piece, constructed in this manner, I attach to the gun-barrel, by any suitable means which will enable meto attach and detach it readily, and to hold it firmly when attached, so that the axis of its bore .shall be a prolongation of the axis of the guns bore,

both axes coinciding and forming a right line.

Among other devices for fastening the muzzle to the gun, I prefer one, the construction and operation of which are shown in the accompanying drawings, and which consists of a hinge, 0, connecting the gun-barrel and muzzle-piece on one'side, and acting in combina tion with a catch or snap on the. opposite side.

The snap is shown clearly in fig. 2, in which an represents a small piece of metal, attached'to the adjustable muzzle-piece, its rear end, on the upper side, formed into ahook or catch, and projecting slightly over the edge of the muzzle-piece.

Aspi ing-catch, It, having a barb or hook on its undcr side, is attached to the gun-barrel, so that its forward and projects over the edge o f the barrel, and

.hooks into the piece m, when the muzzle-piece A is in position for'use, holding the muzzlepiece firmly in that position. 1.

A little thumb-lever, y, is pivoted to the metallic piece m, as shown in the drawing. One end of the lever is bevelled slightly, that the bevelled hook it may always slide upon it, force it down, and elevate its op-g posite end when the muzzle-piece is attached.

This snap can be instantly disengaged by a slight pressure of the thumb upon the elevated end of the lever g, which will throw the books It and g apart, and leave the muzzle Afree to swing back out of the way, to the position shown in red lines in fig. 2 It may be fastened'in that position by a snap, a b, or any other convenient and practicable means.

' The hinge G is, in singlebarrel guns, usually situated on the side of the gun; but I do not intend to hunt myself to any particular point for attaching it.' I n double-barrel guns it will usually be on the under side of the gun, but may be placed on any side.. j

The other letters of the drawings designate parts of the common shot-gun which I do not propose to change; 0 being the sight; 1) i, 3, the straps of the barrel in a double-barrel gun; f f, the breech-piece, that fastens the barrel to the stock; (I, the ramrcd;and e e, the sockets that hold it-in place.

The whole inyention, thus constructed and operated, is designed to increase the etfectiveness of shot-guns at long range, by concentrating the shot, as they leave the barrel, so as to diminish their scattering.

It has been thoroughly tested, and found to act perfectly, increasing the range and effectiveness of shotguns to a very great degree.

It is simple, cheap, easily attached to any gun, old or new, and not liable to get out of repair.

When not to be needed for a great length of time, it can be removed entirely. If the gunner comes upon his game at short range, and desires his gun to scatter its shot as usual, he can adjust it in an instant, by turning the muzzle-piece A back into the position shown in the red lines in fig. 2.

Having thus described my invention,

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

- 1. The muzzle-piece A, having a tapering bore, as described, in combination with the barrel A of a shot gun, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

9,. The combination of the catch at, snap-spring catch it, and thumb-lever g, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the above-described invention, I have hereunto signed my name, this 15th day of February, 1867.

g JOHN FRY.

Witnesses:

W L. BAIR, H. Ounsnnn. 

